Combined waste retainer and collar lubricator



July 18, 1950 c. A. GAMMON COMBINED WASTE RETAINER AND COLLAR LUBRICATORFiled March 50, 1949 Fig.2

3nnentor CharlzsAfiammon f" Ctttornegs Patented July 18, 1950 2-1.

. COMBINED 2,515,503 3 WASTE RETAINER AND v COELAIR Lue nroe'ron CharlesA. St. Augusti-ne, Fla. Application March30, 1949, Serial No s4,273

. 5:01aims. (c1. ace-axe).

This invention relates to plain journal boxes for railway cars andprovides a article of manufacture, in the form ofa combinedjournalcollar lubricat'or and waste-retainer C Journal boxes of the typementioned are packed with oil-saturated waste so'that the'waste is incontact with the turning .journalb'elow' the brass; Displacement ofthiswastehas long'b'een a source of trouble. A wide varietyof retainershave been. proposed and some'have gone into commercial use. Many/ f them'involvesome sort of metal structure'inserted into the box above thewaste and designed to prevent itfrcm working to the front of the boxwhere ittends to pack and ultimately tofbrce the box-lid open.

The present invention is based on the concept that the logical way topre'vent'movement of the waste forward is to fill the space in the lowerforward part of the box with an oil-saturated form-retaining felt insertwhich confines the waste, and fits the box so closely that the wastecannot displace it. The insert acts inherently as a lubricator.

The contour of the space to be filled is so irregular that it is notpracticable to manufacture the insert in one piece at reasonableexpense. The wide variety of journal boxes further complicates thisproblem. Hence, partly as a measure of economy, the inserts arelaminated on planes normal to the journal axis, a procedure permittinsome of the layers to be cut from sheets of felt. Inasmuch as asatisfactory adhesive for connecting the felt layers has not been foundthe presently preferred practice is to sew the laminae together.

The rear layer of felt is relatively thin and engages behind the collaron the end of the journal, where it functions effectively as a collarlubricator.

The invention will now be described in detail by reference to theaccompanying drawing which illustrates a successfully tested embodiment.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical axial section through a typical journal box showingthe new waste retainer and collar lubricator in place.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the retainer removed from the box.

Fig. 3 is a, left side elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is a plan view.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view.

In the present description statements of direction will be made on theassumption that the observer is at the side of the car looking towardthe end of the journal so that the forward portion "of the box andjournal is that toward the'ob'server and-the rear portion is away fromthe observer and toward the wheel, it being remembered that on a railwaycarv the wheels are located between-the two journals which are atthe'ends of the axle:

I The journal box is generally represented by the numeral H and has anopening at l2 which is normally closed by a lid not shown in the draw--'ing but hinged according to custom on the lugs 13.

In the upper portion of the box are the brass l4 and wedge I5 which areconstructedaccording to accepted standards and require no description.

Theaxle general-ly'indicated at It has a journal llwhich terminatesinthe usual journal collar I8. The slot' indicated at 19 is for thereception of a dust guard not illustrated in the drawing, and with whichthe present invention is not concerned. The lower portion of the boxforms a receptacle commonly called the cellar which containsoil-saturated waste generally indicated at 2 I, In the conventionaljournal box this waste is the sole means for lubrication. It is commonlyused without any retaining means whatsoever, but when so usedoccasionally creeps and causes trouble by packing in the front of thebox. This action is often sufficient to force the box lid open, which isharmful because it permits the entrance of dust. Displacement of thewaste inevitably impairs lubrication of the journal, and this is theprimary objection.

According to the present invention there is inserted in the forwardportion of the cellar a retainer which is made up of a high grade oilabsorbing material preferably felt or some satisfactory substitutehaving physical characteristics which resemble the characteristics offelt. A high grade wool felt is preferred and has been successfullyused.

This retainer as illustrated in the drawing is made of three layers 22,23 and 24' composed of relatively thick felt and a fourth and thinnerlayer 25 which is the rear layer and forms a flange 26 dimensioned toengage behind the journal collar l8. The side and bottom externalcontours of the retainer are such as to fit closely the internal contourof the box I I in the forward portion of the box and below the lowermargin of the opening I2.

As best shown in Fig. 2 the flange 26 is arcuate and is adjacent anarcuate channel indicated in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 by the numeral 21. Thisarcuate channel fits the periphery of the journal collar l8. As viewedin Fig. 2 the retainer may be said to have upward extending portionswhich conform to and embrace the journal collar.

The effect of the retainer is to confine the waste 2| in a positionbeneath the journal and to the rear of the collar. Since the retainerresists displacement because of its close fit, it exercises an adequaterestraining action. The retainer is oil absorbent and performs thefunction of lubricating the journal collar. It thus becomes a part ofthe complete packing of the box. Since it is closely confined at thefront of the box, it is not disturbed by the use of packing irons. As aconsequence, the collar is effectively lubricated and because it islubricated by the felt retainer it is protected against waste grabs andlint wipers commonly present in bearing waste; As is well known thesehave a tendency to accumulate on the collar end of the bearing andwedge. If they enter between the collar and the hearing as they tend todo, they cause serious trouble. Thus, the retainer also performs auseful function'by keeping the waste away from the collar.

The retainer is low in first cost, is easy to insert, and because it islocated in the lower portion of the box, does not interfere withinspection and servicing of the bearing.

' For convenience in removing the retainer from the box it is desirableto attach a pull loop 28 which is formed of tape and which is accessibleat the front of the box. This loop takes no' part in the normalfunctioning of the retainer, and can be omitted.

I claim:

1. A waste retainer for use in plain journal boxes of the type in whichthe journal has a collar at its end and turns against a brass mounted inthe top portion of the box, and the box has a front opening and also acellar which is packed with oil-saturated waste, said retainercomprising an oil-absorbent unit of felt-like material formed to fit theinterior of that portion of the cellar which is forward of a planenormal to the journal axis and slightly to the rear of the journalcollar, and which portion is below the lower margin of the front openingof the box, said unit having lateral upward-extending portions whichconform to and embrace the journal collar, and having also a flangewhich enters behind the journal collar and contacts therewith, saidextensions and flange terminating at levels not higher than the journalaxis.

2. A waste retainer as defined in claim 1 in which the unit of felt-likematerial is laminated and the planes of lamination are normal to theaxis of the journal.

3. A waste retainer as defined in claim 1 in which the unit of felt-likematerial is laminated, the planes of lamination are normal to the axisof the journal and said flange is formed by one of the laminations,

4. A waste retainer as defined in claim 1 in which the body of felt-likematerial is laminated, the planes of lamination are normal to the axisof the journal and the laminations comprise a thin lamina which formsthe flange and a plurality of thicker laminae which form the majorportion of the body.

5. A waste retainer as defined in claim 1 in which the unit of felt-likematerial is laminated, the planes of lamination are normal to the axisof the journal and the laminae are connected by stitches.

CHARLES A. GAMMON.

No references cited.

